Meesha Shafi Accuses Ali Zafar of Sexual Harassment
Sending major shockwaves across Pakistan’s entertainment industry, Meesha Shafi has accused Ali Zafar of sexual harassment. In a tweet through her official Twitter handle, Meesha shared her ordeal to ‘break the culture of silence’. She did not detail the experience, or when it happened, but mentioned that it happened more than one occasion. Ali Zafar has not responded to the accusation yet. Here is what Meesha posted through her Twitter handle:
Sharing this because I believe that by speaking out about my own experience of sexual harassment, I will break the culture of silence that permeates through our society. It is not easy to speak out.. but it is harder to stay silent. My conscience will not allow it anymore #MeToo pic.twitter.com/iwex7e1NLZ
— Meesha Shafi (@itsmeeshashafi) April 19, 2018
“As a woman, a public figure and a mother, I have always felt strongly about using my voice to encourage and support our youth who look up to me, especially girls, who dream of craving their own path in Pakistan.
Throughout my career, my family and my fans have given me unconditional love and support and that has been a blessing. It has allowed me space to be brave and to often speak up about issues. However, despite having a voice, there are some issues that are very difficult to speak up about as a woman, especially sexual harassment.
Today I speak up because my conscience does not allow me to be silent anymore. If this can happen to someone like me, an established artist, then it can happen to any young woman and that concerns me gravely.
I have been subjected, on more than one occasion, to sexual harassment of a physical nature at the hands of a colleague from my industry. Ali Zafar. These incidences did not happen when I was young, or just entering the industry. This happened to me despite the fact that I am an empowered, accomplished woman who is known for speaking her mind! This happened to me as a mother of two children.
No woman is ever safe from sexual harassment. In our society, we hesitate to speak up and choose to stay silent and this emboldens sexual harassment to flourish. We must collectively use our voices to share stories so that we break the culture of silence and so that young women today are safer.
It has been an extremely traumatic experience for me and my family. Ali is someone I have known for many years and someone who I have shared the stage with. I feel betrayed by his behavior and his attitude and I know that I am not alone.
Today, I am breaking this culture of silence and I hope that by doing that I am setting an example for young women in my country to do the same. We only have our voices and the time has come to use them.”
Ali Zafar has not issued any statement in response yet. Meesha hasn’t shared what happened either. Still, the accusation is very serious and shows a positive trend of women speaking up against sexual harassment.
It’s just the teaser. Teefa is in trouble.
More to follow…
